Key controlled tumbler lock



AW 5, 1959 HEYER KEY CONTROLLED TUMBLER LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1944 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY pm'ifi 2, 19% F. K. HEYER' KEY CONTROLLED TUMBLER LOCK 2 Shasta-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 21, 1944 Patented Apr. 25, 1950 KEY CONTROLLED TUMBLER LOCK Frederic K. Meyer, Stamford, Conn, assignor to Ehe. Yale & Towne. Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December -21, 1944, Serial No. 569,172

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a key operated tumbler lock. More particularly, this invention relates to a lock of the type in which the keyway of the lock is rendered inaccessible during the operation thereof, so as to prevent picking.

Locks of the same general type have been known in the art for many years, one having been patented by Linus Yale in 1855, Patent No. 12,932. In the Linus Yale lock the key is placed in an opening and is moved bodily by rotation of a knob into position to set a series of tumblers. Continuous rotation of the knob then acts to move the key and certain-locking mechanism, the key later being evicted from the look. through anopening in the knob. Mechanism of this type is difiicult to manufacture and requires exceedingly large parts. Therefore, there is not a large commercial field available. My invention to be set forth in the present application lends itself to embodiment in a very small lock since there is no complicated manipulation required as in the lock of the Linus Yale patent.

A further type of structure relatively to which my invention relates, is illustrated in the Miiller Patent No. 1,031,953 issued July 9, 1912. In the Muller patent, a key sets a series of tumblers, through insertion of the key into the keyway of a rotatable plug. Thereafter, rotation of the key plug by a knob moves both the key and ke plug. so as to Withdraw the keyway from access. This type of structure is not efiective because it is possible to apply picking torque to the key plug and pick the several tumblers. Thereafter, an extremely swift rotation of the key plug will bring the Muller mechanism past the series of additional tumblers provided by Muller, and the lock will be efiectively operated. My invention forms a contribution over Muller because, as will be presently set forth, it is impossible to apply picking torque to my key plug.

As has already been indicated, it is a feature of my lock that its parts may be assembled in a very small and compact unit so as to be capable of being incorporated in commercial lock structures. As a further feature of my invention, there is not presented for manipulation through force, any part of the key plug, since I prefer to utilize an operating knob that is capable of free rotation except when a key is inserted and thetumblers properly positioned.

As a further feature of my invention, and to which I have already alluded, the key plug is iiicapable of movement for the purpose. of the application of picking torque thereto. A further feature of this part of my "invention resides in ally or transverselymoving knob or handle while the utilization of primary locking tumblers for locking the key plug against movement and aclaptedfor setting by a key, and a secondary set of locking tumblers for locking the key plug against movement, the said secondary tumblers being releasable only after the primary set of tumblers is rendered inaccessible for manipulation.

It is a particular feature of the. invention that the free moving knob. already referred to, operatesthe secondary tumblers after shutting off ac.- cess to the keyway of the key plug through, which the primary tumblers are actuated.

A further feature of the invention resides in the special keys for operating the mechanism of lock. One formv of key is made of two parts so that the key may be moved into and out of the keyway through endwise movement thereof. Any movement of the parts of the key relatively to one another, as by rotation or transverse move.- ment, willseparate the two parts of the key. Reverse movement will unite the parts .of the key.. Through this. part of my invention it is possible to maintain one part of the key within the knob, handle or other operating part of the look while the remainder or tumbler setting part of the key stays in. the key plug in operative relation to the several tumblers- A further type of key in which my invention resides utilizes a wire or other flexible member secured to one end of the key and adapted to rest in a groove formed between the key plug and the operating knob or handle as the operating knob or handle is moved relatively to the key plug to close the keyway. Upon reverse movement to open the keyway, the wire. or flexible member is, of course, placed in position so that a pull thereon will move the key out of the keyway. Those skilled in the art will, of course, appreciate that many forms of keys may be adapted for use in my invention and that I may even utilize springejected keys, if that becomes desirable.

In one form of my invention, I utilize a laterin a second form of my invention I utilize a rotary knob. In the second form of m invention the mechanism is embodied in the equivalent of a cylinder for utilization with standard locks of the type well known in the art. The first form of my invention to be described by me discloses ter understood. However, the scope of m invention should not be limited merely because of the terminology utilized and the apparatus illustrated, since it will be obvious that those skilled in the art may readily conceive numerous me chanical structures that will be adapted to operate in accordance with the principles of my invention.

Referrin now to the drawings, Fig. l is a horizontal section through a lock easin showing lock mechanism operatin in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a section taken along the lines 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken along lines 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of the parts of Fig. 1 in a second-position. Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a type of key utilized in connection with the invention of Fig. i. Fig. 6a is a perspective view of a type of key to be utilized where the operating knob rotates relatively to the key plug.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a cylinder look into which my invention has been incorporated. Fig. 8 is a view of the rear of the cylinder of Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is a vertical view through the cylinder of Fig. 7 showing the key moving into position to set the tumblers. Fig. 10 is a section taken along lines l6l0 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section taken along lines ll-li of Fig. 9, but showin the key in place and the cap rotated 90. Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the more important parts of the lock of Figs. 7 to 11.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, reference numeral It indicates a lock casing having a backing plate H and a slot l2 in the front of the casing iii relatively to which is adapted to move a knob or handle I3. This knob or handle 53 is integral with a disk 14 and a retractor arm I5 having thereon a retracting pin it. A bolt l? is adapted for sliding movement in the lock casing Hi and is formed integral with what may be termed a key plug I8. Secured as part of the casing ill is what may be considered the equivalent of a cylinder or mounting member I9.

A series of five bores are formed in the key plug portion iii of the bolt ii for alignment with a series of five bores H in the cylinder 0r mounting portion id of the casing 10. Tumblers 22 in the bores 29 are adapted for cooperation with drivers 23 in the bores 2|, the usual springs 24 being provided for urging the tumblers and drivers upwardly from the position of Fig. 2. The several drivers and tumblers are the primary looking tumblers and drivers of my lock and are adapted to be set in the release position illustrated in Fig. 2 by the blade 25 of the key K illustrated in Fig. 6.

The blade 25 of key K is formed with a tongue 26 sliding in a groove 2'! of the handle 28 of the key, it being obvious that the tongue and groove joint will allow endwise movement of the blade 25 with the handle 28. Lateral or transverse movement of the blade 25 relatively to the handle 28 will act to separate the two parts as will presently be made apparent. The blade 25 is formed with a series of depressions 29 adapted for cooperation with the tumblers 22 so as to place the tumblers and drivers with their parting lines in alignment with the key plug 18 so that the key plug may be released from the mounting portion or cylinder part IQ of the casing lfi.

As was indicated generally in the first part of the specification, the release of the primary tumblers does not allow movement of the key plug, it being my purpose to prevent movement of the key plug in order that no picking torque may be applied as an aid to the setting of the several tumblers 22 until the said tumblers are inaccessible for picking. For this additional look ing of the key plug !8, I utilize a secondary tumbler and driver combination shown in Fig. 2, the tumbler bearing reference numeral 38 while the driver is designated by reference numeral 3i and the usual driver spring by reference numeral 32. The tumbler 39 is shown in a position to prevent movement to the left of the bolt l? and its key plug portion l8. However, if the shallow bore 33 of the disk is is moved with knob 23 opposite the tumbler 39, then that tumbler will be urged by driver sprin 32 and driver (if to bring the parting line between the tumbler and driver into the same relationship as exists between the tumblers and drivers of the primary set.

It is, therefore, now appreciated that if the knob i3 and its disk M are moved from the posi-' tion of Figs. 1 and 2 to the position of Fig. 4, the bolt ii and key plug is will be released for retraction, provided that the primary tumblers and drivers have previously been set by the key K. Continued movement to the left from Fig. 4 wiil bring the retracting pin ie of the retractor arm l5 against a part of the key plu l8, and thereafter the knob 53 will be effective to retract the bolt l'i.

It is the function of the retractor I5 secured to the knob id, to close the keyWay 35 of the key plug it], best illustrated in Fig. 3. Thus, the retractor i5 is formed with a relatively Wide slot 36 leading into a relatively narrow slot 31. In the position of the parts in Figs. 1 and 5 the key K may be inserted into the keyway 35 through the slot 36 of the retractor i5. When the retractor l5 moves to the left from its position of Fig. 1, after the key blade 25 has set the tumblers 22 and drivers 23 in their release position of Fig. 2, the narrow slot 31 moves opposite and into enveloping relation to the handle 28 of the key.

Continued movement to the left of the knob !3 will then move the key handle 28 to the position of Fig. 4 and will separate it from the key blade 25. This is very clearly shown in Fig. 4 where the key blade is seen to be in tumbler-setting position while the handle 28 of the key is to the left of the keyway 35. Moreover, a solid portion 512 of the retractor i5 is now directly over the keyway 35 of the key plug I 8 so that access to the said keyway is prevented. Thereafter, continued movement of the knob IS will cause the retractor pin 56 of the retractor iii to move the bolt i! into release position.

To throw the bolt it is necessary to move the knob 13 to the right and back to its position of Fig. 4 and then to its position of Fig. 1. This movement will allow the retractor 15 to bring the parts 25 and 28 of the key into the engaging relation of Figs. 1 and 6. Thereafter, a pull on the handle 23 of the key will withdraw it from the key plug, and the parts will be left in looking position with the bolt i'i fully projected.

- It will now be clearly understood that any attempt to apply picking torque to the key plug l8 through the exposed keyway 35 will not be successful, because the key plug l8 cannot move to the left, it being held locked by the inaccessible tumbler 30. It will be further appreciated that the inaccessible tumbler 30 can only be released by the slide I4 and that movement of the apertures a slide" it to release the tumbler effects a coveriiig of the keyway by' the retractor [5 through. the surface l5a thereof. In other words, it is impossible to obtain access to the keyway once the secondary tum-bler and driver are set to release the key plug [8 and the bolt 11.

In Figs, 7 to 12 inclusive I illustrate a cylinder lock in which is embodied the invention just described with regard to Figs. 1 to 6. The casing of the cylinder lock' is designated by reference numeral en and it is threaded in the conventional manner at M for coaction with a retaining nut 42 whereby it may be secured to any standard form" of lock housing or other structure; herein designated by the letter L. It should be understood that the cylinder may actually be the body of a lock, such as a padlock. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the sim ple manner in which the lock mechanism hereinafter to be described may be adapted for vari-' one looking arrangements.

The key plug is designated by reference numeral and has a disk portion 44 and a shaft portion 45, the shaft portion extending through the cylinder 45 and carrying a cam 45 for the operation of any suitable bolt or other machnism when the key plug 43 is rotated. A series of primary tumblers and drivers are adapted to lock the key plug against rotation relatively to the cylinder until a suitable key sets the tumblers and drivers with their parting line in align ment with the parting line between the disk 44 of the key plug as and the cylinder 45. The primary tumblers are designated by reference numeral 4'! and the primary drivers by reference numeral 48 while the driver springs bear reference numeral 49. The ends of the tumblers are projected by the driver springs 49 into a keyway 50 formed in the key plug 43.

For purposes of manufacture, the key plug 43 is formed with apair of bores 5| in which are mounted screws 52, the said screws being threaded into a cap 53 so as to secure the cap as an integral portion of the key plug 43. It is the function of the cap 53 to retain in assembled relation to the key plug it a knurled knob 5 .1. This knurled knob 54 is equipped with a key slot 55 that in the positionof the parts in Figs. 7 and 9 is in alignment with the keyway 55 of the key plug. However, the knob 54 is free at all times to rotate relatively to the key plug 43 unless locked thereto by the key 56 as best illustrated in Fig. 11.

The key 56' (Fig. 12) is formed with a series of depressions 51 adapted for cooperation with the several tumblers 41 to place them in proper release position to allow rotation of the key plug 43 relatively to the cylinder 40, all as has already been explained. However, even if the key is inserted into the keyway 50 so as to release the key plug for rotation, the key plug will be maintained against that rotation by a secondary tumbler 53 coacting with a secondary driver 59 and a driver spring 55. Thus, as is best seen in Fig. 10, the tumbler 58 is maintained directly across the parting line between the disk portion 44 of key plug 63 and the cylinder 40. The end of the tumbler 58 lies against the surface 5% of the knob 54.

In order to move the tumbler 58 to release position it is necessary to rotate the knob 54 so as to bring its shallow bore 6| (Fig. 9) opposite the end of the tumbler 58. In the locked position of the parts in Fig. 9 the shallow bore 5| is 90 displaced from the tumbler 58. Therefore, a.- rotation of the knob 54 relatively tor the locked key plug 43 is necessary to bring the shallow bore 51 into position to release the key plug by allowing endwise: movement oi the turn bler 58. This 90 rotation will, of course, with. draw" the key slot 55' of the knob 54 from oppo site the keyway 50 and will completely close 011 the keyway 55 so as to prevent access thereto. Once this rotation is accomplished, a lug 62 on the knob 54, best shown in Fig. 1-2, abuts a portion 013 the key 56 so as to rotate the key and the key plug 43 to movethe cam 45 as may be required.

The key 56 has secured thereto a flexible wire or similar member 55, this wire fitting into a, groove 8'6 in the knob 54 as the knob rotates to the position of- Fig. 1-].- front the position of Fig. 9 When the knob 54 is rotated back to the position of Fig. 9, it is obvious that a pull on the wire 55 will withdraw the key 56.

If desired, the key 57 shown in Fig. 611 may be utilized. This key is formed with a blade 68 and a finger piece 59 held together by a joint 26a, 21a similar to that utilized in the key K of the first modification. However, the joint is made along the circumference of a circle so that the key may be used in the cylinder of Figs. '7 to 12 in the same manner as the key K is used in the first modification.

Reviewing the modification of Figs. '7 to 12 once again, it will be noted that any attempt to pick the tumblers er and drivers 45 in Fig. 9* will fail because the key plug" 4'3 is heldagainst rotation by the tumbler 58 cooperating with driver 5%. Release of the tumbler 58 can only take place through the rotation of the knob 54. It is, of course, obvious that any rotation of the knob 55 must be accompanied by the closing of the keyway 50 against access. It is, of course. noted that the insertion of the key is accomplished in a relatively conventional manner and that the manipulation thereafter of the knob 54 is extremely simple. I believe that the great merits of my invention and its ready adaptability for locking purposes will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I now claim:

1. In a lock of the class described, a movable element, tumblers for locking said element against movement, an operating device for moving said movable element, means mounting said operating device for free rotation relatively to said movable element, means additional to said tumblers for locking said movable element, a key for setting said tumblers inserted into said movable element through an opening in said operating device, means whereby said operating device effects the release of said movable element from said additional means, and a part of said operating device contacting said key to rotate said movable element thereafter.

2. In a lock of the class described, a housing, a tumbler controlled element movably mounted in said housing, akeyway formed in said turnbler controlled element, tumblers for controlling the movement of said element adapted to be set by a key inserted into the keyway of said element, a cover for said keyway, means whereby the movement of said cover into covering relation to said keyway is a prerequisite to the movement of said movable element relatively to said housing even after the positioning of said tumblers by a key in said keyway. and means whereby said cover contacts the key to move said tum-t blercontrolled element after it first moves into covering relation to said keyway.

3. In a lock of the class described, a key plug having a keyway, an operator mounted for movement relatively to said key plug, said operator having an opening for alignment with said keyway when said operator is in an initial position, the movement of said operator withdrawing said opening from alignment with said keyway, a key adapted for insertion through said opening and into said keyway, and a flexible strand secured to said key and extending outwardly of said opening, said key plug and operator being formed to allow for the positioning of part of said strand between the key plug and operator as the operator is moved to withdraw its opening from oppositethe keyway as the key remains in the keyway.

4. In a lock of the class described, a key plug having a keyway, an operator mounted for movement relatively to said key plug, said operator having an opening for alignment with said keyway when said operator is in an initial position, the movement of said operator withdrawing said opening from alignment with said keyway, a key adapted for insertion through said opening and into said keyway, so as not to obstruct rotation of said operator relatively to said key plug, and a flexible strand secured to said key and extending outwardly of said opening, said key plug and operator being formed to allow for the positioning of part of said strand between the key plug and operator as the operator is moved to withdraw its opening from opposite the keyway as the key remains in the keyway.

5. In a lock or the class described, a movable element, tumblers for locking said element against movement, an operating device for moving said movable element, means mounting said operating device for free rotation relatively to said movable element, means additional to said tumblers for locking said movable element against movement, said operating device having an opening for the insertion of a key into said element to release said element for movement, and means whereby said operating device efiects the release of said movable element from said additional means during its preliminary movement relatively to said movable element, the subsequent movement of said operating device moving said movable element through contact with said key if it has been released previously through the setting of said tumblers by said key.

6. In a lock of the class described, a movable element, tumblers for locking said element against movement, an operating device for moving said movable element, means mounting said operating device for free rotation relatively to said movable element, means additional to said tumblers for locking said movable element against movement, said operating device having an opening in alignment with a keyway in said lock for insertion of a key for setting said tumblers to release said movable element for movement, the movement of said operating element withdrawing said opening from alignment with said keyway whereby to cover said keyway against access, means whereby said operating device efiects the release of said movable element during its preliminary movement relatively to said movable element, the subsequent movement of said operating device moving said movable element through contact with said key if it has been released previously by the setting of said tumblers.

7. In a lock of the class described, a movable element, tumblers for locking said element against movement until set by a key in release position, an operating device for moving said movable element, means mounting said operating device for free rotation relatively to said movable element, said movable element having a keyway for the insertion of a key for setting said tumblers to release said movable element for movement, the movement of said operating element closing said keyway against access during its movement relatively to said movable element, and means on said operating device adapted to contact the key after closing said keyway for rotating said movable element through the intermediary of the key.

8. In a lock of the class described, a housing, an element movably mounted in said housing and having a keyway, tumblers for locking said element against movement until properly set by a key inserted into said keyway for positioning said tumblers, an operating devicefor moving said element, means mounting said operating device for free rotation relatively to said movable element, and means whereby said operating device when moved relatively to said movable element first closes said keyway and thereafter contacts a part of said key to move said element.

9. In a lock of the class described, a housing, an element movably mounted in said housing, tumblers for locking said element against movement until properly set by a key inserted through ditional to said tumblers whereby said movableelement is locked until said cover closes said key-- way against access, and means whereby in each revolution thereof said cover releases said movable element from said additional means after covering said keyway.

FREDERIC' K. HEYER.

EtEFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Da-t i20,127 Taylor Jan. 28, 1890 524,148 Roche Aug. 7, 1894 577,927 Murphy Mar. 2, 1897 1,854,080 Tonnessen Apr. 12, 1932 2,165,202 Bjorck July 11, 1939 2,179,947 Miller Nov. 14, 1939' 

